DETECTION OF NATURALLY-OCCURRING ENTEROVIRUSES AND HEPATITIS-A VIRUS IN UNDIGESTED AND ANAEROBICALLY DIGESTED-SLUDGE USING THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

Four undigested and four anaerobically digested sewage sludge samples were analyzed for enteroviruses and hepatitis A virus using seminested and double polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively. For enterov iruses, all eight samples were positive when detection was by seminest ed PCR. Using cell culture all samples except two digested sludge samp les were positive. For hepatitis A virus, seven out of eight samples w ere positive by PCR detection. In all samples, PCR inhibitory substanc es were removed by passage through Sephadex G-50 and Chelex 100 column s. Overall the PCR methodology was highly successful in identifying th e presence of both viruses; however, with this methodology, there was no indication as to whether enteroviruses or hepatitis A viruses not c onfirmed in cell culture were infectious.